For years, all my visions and fantasies of my most successful, happy self involved me looking different. It's only been in the last few years that I've realized that the woman I see in the mirror today is my most successful, happy self. 

It's a particularly poignant observation for me now because this week, my daughter graduates from middle-school and will soon head off to high school. She's already talking about the clothes she wants to get, what she wants to do with her hair -- all the ways she wants to create a "new look" for high school.

"Danger, danger" my inner voice is screaming.

Because you and I know that a good high school experience isn't about having a certain look. The "right" look is the one that's uniquely you and that makes you feel happy and confident. But as women, our visions of our hopes and dreams all too often come wrapped in a particular physical package.